Device for embedding wires in fusible sheets



R. B. REED, JR. DEVICE FOR EMBEDDING WIRES IN FUSIBLE SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 192l- PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

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R. B. REED, 1R. DEVICE FOR EMBEDDING WIRES IN FUSIBLE SHEETS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, mm. 7 v

' 1,42 8, 185. I Patentedsept. 5, 1922. 1 n9 8 2 swans-sues? 2.

1a a 397? P 43 my Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

ta ts RICHARD B. REED, an, OFORANGE, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE r03 EMBnnnINe VIBES. IN rUsIsLn snnn'rs.

Application. filed May is,

To all whom itmay concern: q

Be it known that I, RICHA D B. REED, Jr, a citizen of Canada, residing at Orange, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented a new and usefulDevice for Embedding Wires in Fusible Sheets, of which the following is a specification. 7 I The device is more particularly adapted to be used in the bee industry in embedding wiresin honeycombfoundations.

In common apiary practice, frames are providedin each of which issecured a sheet of wax, that is supported by the frame and is reinforced by strands of wire extending lengthwise of the frame, and embedded in the wax. The sheets form the foundations on which the bees build the honeycomb cells. The several strands are parts of a single length of wire which is threaded through apertures in the frame, and is secured at its ends to suitable fastening means. There are usually four of these strands to each frame and consequently both ends of the wire of which they are formed are secured to the same end of the frame.

Objects of my invention are to construct a device for embedding the strands of wires in the-wax which may be operated with a minimum amount of time and labor, and which will give the greatest freedom to the hands of the operator so that he may smooth out the wax and eliminate irregularities and unevenness therein.

The above objects are accomplished by providing a block which is adapted to support a honeycomb frame and which is movable to and fro in a fixed path; and by providing positive and negative electrical con tact members adjacent one end of said path,

so placed that they will contact respectlvely with the ends of the wire in the framewhen the block is moved to that end of its" path.

l Vhen the contact members are in'contact with the ends of the wire a current of electricity may be passed through the wire,

in and become embedded in the wax.

Honeycombframes are usually cheaply made and the parts, thereof. arenot always,

true; and it is an object of theinvention to provide means whereby the electrical contacts may adjust themselves to any irregularities or unevenness due'to struction of the frame.

the faulty coni921. Se-1M0, 470,548.

a It is frequently desirable to use electric-' ity from a source of high voltage and in that case a transformer may be used to lower the potentialbetween the contacts,

and in orderto economize electrical energy a switch may be provided whereby current maybe turned off when the cont-act members are not incontact with the ends of frame wires and"it.is desirable that "the switch may be so constructed and arranged that it may be operated while at, the same time leaving the hands of the'operator free to 'manipulate the block and frame' "It is an object of the invention to provide means, operable otherwise than by the hands whereby thecirc'uit through the transformer may be made or-broken. p

Another ob'ect is'to 'so construct the device that it may be readily dis-assembled and compactly packed for transportation.

Another object is to provide means whereby the electrical contact members may be adjusted to. the requirements of thevaried wiring of'the frames to. be used with the device.

Another object is to provide means which will. cause the wires to become: simultaneously and evenly embedded in the wax. 7

Another objectlof the invention is to providemeans to automatically form an electric circuit when the block is moved to position with. the terminals of the wire in the honeycomb frame contacting withthe con- .tact member's. i

Another object .the invention is to provide means for preventing the damaging of parts of the device resulting from lateral displacement 'of the block relative to the rollers. i f

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the s'ubjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention.

Figure l'shows the device placed on the table with the movable block in part broken awayto show the rollers and the relation of the block to the contact members when the block is in normal or retracted position; the View also showing the relation of the transformer and'switch mechanism to the contactmembers. l l- Fig; 2 shows/in perspective ahoneycomb frame.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line :0 Fig. 4, of the device showing a honeycomb frame mounted thereon and in position of contact with the contact members, also showing the spring for retracting the movable block.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device in the position as shown in Fig. 3 and showing the wiring of the honeycomb frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the contact members and the supporting structure therefor.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing the specific switch member.

7 shows in perspective the glass plate to be used in connection with the device.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a different form of the device showing guide members for the block and also showing the transformer attached to the base.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken on line 02 Fig. 8, show: ing an electrical switch mounted on the base, and a control on the block for causing the switch members to contact; the block being shown in its forward position and the switch members contacting.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section similar to the section shown in Fig. 9 showing the position of the contact members relative to each other, when the block is in its retracted position.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on line a Fig. 9, showing the switch members and control; and the position of the block in the groove between the guide members.

Before describing my invention in detail I will set forth the nature of one type of honeycomb frame with which the invention is to be used. Referring to Fig. 2 in which the frame is illustrated, A and B are respectively the side and end members of the frame, which is rectangular in shape. Threaded back and forth longitudinally of the frame is a wire C the strands 00f which are parallel to each other. The ends of the wire are secured to one end of the frame by nails D or other suitable means. Secured within the frame by one edge is a sheet of wax E into which the strands c of the wire are to be embedded. The device by which this is to be accomplished will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 designates a table or support of any character on which the device may be placed; the table being no part of the invention. 2 is a base member of the device on the upper side of which are secured the brackets 3; the brackets being provided with journals 4 in which suitable rollers 5 are rotatablymounted.

Mounted on the rollers is a block 6, provided in its under surface with a rectangular recess 7 the recess being of a length considerably greater than the distance between the rollers 5, and of a width suflicient to receive the rollers which extend transversely of the recess. When the block is mounted on the rollers, the rollers are received within the recess 7 the side and end walls 8 and 9 of the recess extending down about the rollers; the side walls 8 preventing lateral movement of the block and end walls 9 determining the length of the path of travel of the block. The block is preferably held slightly elevated by the rollers above the base members thereby eliminating friction between the block and base in the movement of the block back and forth along-its path. A spring 10 may be provided, attached by one end to the base 2 and by the other to block 6 whereby the block may be normally held retracted and out of contact with the contact members which I will now describe.

At one end of the base member adjacent the path of travel of block 6 and spaced apart transversely of said base member are posts 11 and 12 having rectan ular apertures 13 therein, and in the apertures are slidably mounted stems or rods 14. On the ends of the stems or rods are secured by means of pivots 15 contact plates 16 and 17. The arrangement of the pivots being such that the plates may swing in a horizontal plane to insure contact with members D when any portion of the plates contact with the end frame member B and the posts are so placed that, when the block 6 is moved to that end of its, path of travel, the contact plates 16 and 1? will respectively come in contact with the ends of the frame member B. The rods 14 are rectangular in cross section and are adapted to fit snugly in apertures 13 whereby turning movement of the rods is prevented.

Surrounding the stems or rods 14 are compression springs 18 which abut at one end against the posts 11 and 12 and at their opposite ends against a pin 19; By this arrangement the contact plates are yieldably held extended toward the block 6 and by means of said springs together with the pivotal mounting of the contact plates 16 and 17, the contact plates are adapted to adjust themselves to any irregularity or imperfection in construction of the honeycomb frame. The posts 11 and 12, the stems 14 and the plates 16 and 17 are of electrically conductive material, and the supports are connected with a source of electric energy tirough the conductors 20 and 20 In order that the contact members may be adjusted to any position of the terminals D of the wire C at the end of the frame the posts 11 and 12 are preferably mounted for adjustment transversely of the base'toward and away from each other and for this purpose the lower portions of the posts are made cylindrical forming stems 21, having heads 22, on their lower ends. The heads may be formed integral on the pins or may be in the form of nuts, screw threaded onto the ends of the stems asshown. 7

The stems are adapted to slide in slots 23, 23 extending transversely of the base 2 from the sides of the base and toward each other, the heads 22 riding in slid eways 24, formed on the underside of the block and communicating respectively with the slots 23, 23?. The stems 21, 21 are screw threaded and lock nuts 25 are provided thereon by which the posts may be secured in adjusted position. lVashers 26, 26 may be employed between the nuts 25, 25 respectively and the base to prevent wear on the base in adjusting the nuts. The adjacent ends of the slots 23, 23 are spaced from each other a sufiicient distance to, at all times, prevent the posts 11 and 12 from contacting with each other. The slots and slideways may be pro vided with linings 27 of brass or other electrically conductive material, forming an electrically conductive connection between the posts 11 and 12 and conductors 20 and 20 respectively.

A transformer 28 is shown introduced in the circuit 29 leading from the source of electric energy to. thecontact plates 16, 17 to reduce the electro-motive force of the current. In connection with the transformer a switch 30 may be employed, one contact 31 of which is attached to a treadle 32 operable by the foot; and the other contact 34: is secured to a base35 to which the treadle is hinged; the contact members being normally held out of contact by means of spring 36. By this arrangement of the switch the op erators hands are left free at all times for manipulation of the block and the sheet of Wax within the honeycomb frame.

It will be understood that a battery or any other suitable source of electricity may be used in connection with the contact device.

The slip connections :37, 37 and 38,38 may be provided byiwhich the conductors 20, 20 and the base 2 and conductors 29 and the switch 30 may be disconnected when the device is not in use. The posts 11 and 12 may be detached fromthe base and the parts of the device may be compactly packed for transportation from place, to place.

In operation, a honeycomb frame with a sheet of wax secured therein, as setfortlr above, is placed on the movable block 6 with the wax lying between the block and the wire strands c. The operator then, with one hand, moves the blockagainst the force of spring 10 until the terminals D'contact with the contact members 16 and 17 when the operator places his foot on the treadle passing a current of electricity simultaneously through all the strands of the wire of the frame heating the wire, and melting the wax adjacent thereto. 'VVhen the wax is suliiciently soft the strands. of wire will sink into-the body thereof and upon the waxbecoming cool again the wires will be firmly embedded in the wax forming a reinforce therefor. With his other hand, the operator may smooth'out any buckling or irregularity in the wax and is enabled to obtain a uniform embedding-of the wires. When the wires havesunk into the wax a sufiicient distance the operator may movev the block to the opposite end of its-path of travel or may remove his hands and allow the block'to travel backward under: the-force that the operator may observe the embedding of the wires.

with which the device is to be, used and he plate should be of such shape and size as to fit readily within any' honeycomb frame should be of sufiicient width to rest, simultaneously on all of'the wires. Handles 40 are provided at the ends of the plate by which it may be placed upon, or taken off the wires.

By means of the above described arrange- I ment the strands of wire areembedded simultaneously in the wax with a great saving of time and labor. The work may bequickly done and at the same time more uniform embedding of the wires in the wax maybe obtained than has heretofore been possible.

The device as illustratedin Figs. 8 toll inclusive, differs from that shown. in Figs.

1 to 7 inclusive, only in the arrangement of I the transformer on the base 2; in the provision of a switch 41 operable by the movement of the block in its path of travel; and in the provision of spaced guide members 42 and 43 extending parallel with the path of travel of the block and adaptedto prevent lateral movement of the block relative to the path of travel.

The switch 41 comprises a rigid. member 4-4 and a flexible member45mounted on the base; the. flexible member being normally out of contact with the rigid member. ,Secured to the movable block 6 is. a control device 46 having a sloping surface 47 adapted to ride upon thezflexible me'mber, to cause it to contact with the rigid member, when to the base member 2;. and may be operated by persons of little skill; the switch being operable by the movement of the block into position for the ends of the wire 0 of the frame to contact with contact members 16 and 17.

By the cooperation of sides 8 and the guide members 4-2, 43 lateral movement of the block on the rollers is prevented and injury of the block and rollers due to such side movement is avoided.

The advisability of disconnecting the transformer with the source of electric energy arises from the fact that transformers at present in use consume energy so long as they are connected with the electrical source. This energy is transformed into heat meters taken up by a vibrator inside the transformer intended to prevent such over-heat. The switches 30 and 41 disconnect the trans former to avoid using current in the transformer except at the moment of embedding.

I claim.

1. A device for embedding wires strung in a frame, in wax, comprising a base; rollers rotatably mounted thereon; a block having a recess in its lower side, and adapted to receive said rollers, the 'lGlfllZlOIl of said rollers in said recess being such as to afford limited movement of said bloclrrelative to the base; contacts adjacent one end of the path of movement of the block adapted to contact with said wire so as to pass a currentof electricity therethrough; said contacts being slidably mounted and spring pressed whereby the contacts adjust themselves to irregularities of said frame.

2. In a device-for embedding, in a wax foundation strands of wire strung in frame a movable'block; and electric contacts comprising a pair of apertured uprights and rods slidable in said apertures, and held against displacement therefrom; contact plates on the ends of said rods to contact with the ends of the wire; and springs on the rods between said plates and uprights.

3. A device for embedding strands of wire strung in a frame in a wax foundation, comprising a movable block and electric con tacts; said contacts comprising a pair of apertured uprights; rods slidable in said apertures and held against displacement therefrom; contact plates on the ends of said rods; and springs on the rods between said plates and uprights; said plates being swiveled on said rods, and said bloclr being adapted to move the ends of said wire to and from said contacts as the block is moved.

4:. A device for embedding in a war: foundation, strands of wire strung in a frame; comprising a movable bloclr and electric contacts comprising a pair of apertured uprights, rods extendlng from said uprights and contact plates swiveled to the ends of said rods; and adapted to be contacted with and disconnected from the ends of the wire as the block is moved.

5. A device for embedding the wire of a honeycomb frame in wax, comprising a base; a block thereon, electrical contact members, a transformer and a switch, electrical connections between the contact members and transformer and switch, and means permitting disconnection of the electrical connections from said contact members and from said switch and means permitting the contact members to be removed from said base, whereby the device may be disconnected and compactly packed.

6. In a device for embedding wire of a honeycomb frame in wax, comprising a block movably mounted; electric contacts and a switch operable otherwise than by the hands for controlling the flow of electricity through said contacts when contacting with said wire.

7. A device for embedding wires in a fusible sheet, comprising a base, a block mounted to move in a fixed path on said base, switch members on said base and means on said block for-causing said switch members to contact with each other when the block is at one end of its path of travel; and a sourc of electricity connected with said switch.

8. A device for embedding wires in a fusible sheet, comprising a base, a block movaable in a fixed path relative to said base, a rigid and a flexible switch member secured to the base; a member secured to the block and having a sloping surface adapted to ride upon said flexible member to cause the flexible member to contact with the rigid member, when the block is moved to one en d of its path of travel, a source of electricity connected with the switch members.

9. In a device for embedding wires in a fusible sheet; a base having a groove therein; rollers mounted on the base; and a block movably mounted on the rollers, said block having side members projecting into the groove; said block being guided in its movement and prevented from lateral movement relative to its path of movement by the coop eration of the sides of said groove and the side members of the block.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 6th day of May,1921.

RICHARD B. REED, Jn.

Witness:

JAMES R. TOVNSENDL 

